Acetylene-gas generator.



'No. 729,623. PATENTBD JUNE 2, 1903.

- H. E. MARSH.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

. boz HUM/4R0 5. 444/?5/1 UNITED. STATES.

ll OVV'A RD E.

Patented June 2, 1903.

PAT NT OFFICE.

MAusu, on NEW YORK, 'N. Y., hssIGNon or 'lWU-THIRDS 'ro MINNIE WHITNEY DENNE, or NEW YORK, No". i

ACET'YLENE-GAS e ENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent N o. 729,623, dated June 2, .1903.

Application filed August 8.1902. Serial No. 118,865. (No model.)

To (LZZ when), it 1mm concern.-

Be it known that I, llowano E. BLxRsn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough'ofManhatt-an ,Icity,county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetyleni' -Gzis Gen-- erators, of which the following is a specification. I I r My invention relates to improvements in [O acetylenesgas generators or, more generally, to improvements in apparatus for generating gas by the chemical reaction of one substance brought in contact with another.

The object of my invention is to improve I 5 apparatus of the above-indicated class by providing an improved feeder, which contains and periodically supplies the calcium carbid or analogous substance. the feeder being so constructed that'its operation willbe controlled by the amount of gas used and that the calcium carbid or analogous substance will be protected against the action of vapor dur-' ing the intervals when the feeder is'at rest. A further feature of my invention relates .2 5 to the supply of a fresh quantity of water or correspondingsubstance into which the calcium carbid or analogous compound is convcyed by the feeder.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of novelty pointed.

out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrateone of the many forms in whichqny invention may be carried out, and in which- Figure 1 is asectional elevation of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional-elevation of the generator proper on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an outside view of the upper 0 part of the generator and also shows the feedwater tankin seetion' -The genera-tor comprises a receptacle A, adapted to contain waterand also forming in part a gas-chamber. To the upper portion 4 5 of this receptacle is attached a casing B,'preferably in the shape of a drum, and in this casing is mounted to oscillate the feeder 0, carried upon ashaft c, which extends through the drum 13; and packings I) are provided to 0 prevent any leakage of gas atthe bearings. At the upper end of the casing or drum 1; is

'of the spout opening serves for tlie'intrmluction of calcium 5 5 cal-bid or an analogous substance into the feeder C, which for this purpose has an opening 0" and a cap or cover to closesaid opening. The portion of the feeder G which is at 'the bottom in Figs. 1. and 2 is provided with an extension or discharge-spout c, the end of which is adapted to be closed by a lid or cover c hinged to the body of the feeder at c. The opening c and the discharge-spout c are located at about diametrically opposite points of the feeder It will be seen that when the spout 1" is at the bottom, as in the normal position, the opening c will be at-the top, and therefore ready to receive a charge of carbid. At the same time the outlet of the spout will be closed by the lid 0 and thus the egress of carbid. from the spout will be prevented positivel y, alt-hon gh the cover 0' is, strictly speak ing, not required for this purpose, the shape of the spout c, ashercinafter explained, being sufficient'to accomplish this result. In any event, evenif the lid were omitted it will be seen that when the discharge-spout r is in such a position that the carbid cannot escape therefrom the filling-opening a" will. be at the top of. thefeeder C. Owing to this arrangement, I am'enabled to fill the feeder with carbid to the top without any danger-of the carbid escaping through the spout' during the fillingoperation. It will be understood that the feeder C will. owing to the eccentric location of its center of gravity, seek to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the lid or cover 0 is closed partly by its own weight and preferably,also, by that of a wei glited arm 0, which 0 is secured to said lid or cover. This arm may also be so arranged as to impinge against the top of the receptacle A, thus-further assisting in pressing the lid 0 tightly against the end In order to prevent the en- 5 trance of any gas or vapor into the feeder along the shaft 0, I prefer to make the feeder with a central 'sleeve c", which fits upon the said shaft. It will be observed that the discharge end of the spout c is curved, so that when the feeder is in the normal position (shown in Fig. the discharge end of v the spout points upwardly, and thus the discharge or escape of carbidiwould be prevented even without the use'of the lid 0 The spout, together with the carbid contained therein, also forms means for assisting the return movement of the feeder from the position illustrated by dotted lines to the normal position. During such. return movement a new charge of carbid will pass into the spent, and the added weight of this carbid will aid in bringing the feeder back to its normal position.

The gas; generated in the receptacle A rises into a head h", within which is arranged the upper end h of'a pipe. ll, extending downwardly through a sloping partition G and.

into a purifying-chamber g, which is'adapted to contain water. For filling this chamber 1 provide an inlet g, which may be closed by a suitable cap gt- From the 'pn rifyin'g-chamber g the gas passes through a pipe d into the gasometer, which comprises a stationary part D, filled with water, as usual, and a movable part or bell D. The end of the pipe 01 forms a guide for a tube 2', which is rigidly secured to the bell D and which 'is provided with openings 6, through which the gas may pass from the interior of the tube i into the bell. At a point dian'ietri'eally'opposite to the tube 2' the bell D carries asimilar tube j,

a bell D, so as to allow the gas to pass from the which fits over and is guided by a stationary tube j, connected with the service-pipe (1" leading to the place of consumption. The tube j is'provide'd with apertures j within the.

bell into the tube. The movement of the bell is further guided by means of a centrallyarranged tube K, seen red to the bell and provided atits bottom with a flaring portion which is at a higher level than the lower ends of the'tubes i and'j This tube K fits over and'is'guided by a stationary tube K, which leads to a blow-elf pipe.

lVith thebcll D is operatively connected,

.. so as to, follow the movement of the bell, a

bar cit-shaving rack-teeth or gear-teeth a whichunder certain circumstances, as hereinafter explained, are adapted for engagementwith a pinion a secured upon the shaft 0, which has a bearing in a bracket a, projected from the top of the receptacle A.

\Vater is supplied to the generator by the following arraiigemcnt A feed-water tank L is provided, preferably between the-generator and the gasometer, as shown in Fig. 1-, and

this tank is connected with a water-supply pipe Z, ha'v mg a valve Z, controlled by a float M in a well-known inanner-that is, the float operates to open the valve when the level of the a water sinks, and thus the water is kept at a constant level in the feed-water tank L. From the lower part ofthe tank L a pipe Z leads to the receptacle A, so that the said receptacle andthe feed-water tank are in com1n unica- --tion, causing the water to stand at the same level inboth, (if lie-account is taken of the gas-pressnrc.),. f i

To provide for a renewal-of the watercoutained. in the receptacle A, l arrange near the bottom of the water-space of said receptacle a casing N, from which extends out wardly a discharge-pipe 01, forming a seal or trap'at a level considerably below the normal level'o f the water. Fromthe casing N further extends upwardly within the receptacle -A a siphon-pipe m, having its free end turned downward, as shown at m so that it will'nor: mally extend below the level of the water.

is normally closed by a valve on. understood that if this valve is raised water will rush out from the receptacle to the casing N and the discharge-pipe n and will start the siphon through the pipes m and m, and even if the valve m is allowed to almost immediately returnto the closed position water will ,of the pipe portion 111?, when the siphon'will be broken.

Of course as the-level sinks in thereceptacle A it will. alsosink in the feedwater tank L and the float M will cause the valve 1 to be opened, 'so that the tank L and generating-receptacle A will again be filled "to the former level, as shown in the draw By the mechanism so far described av in s. fresh quantity of water may be admitted to the generating-receptacle A. I prefer to make this admission of water dependent uponthe. 7 operation of the feeder C, so that a fresh supply of water will be admitted each time a new charge of carbid is; f ed and preferably immediately before the admission of the carbid. For this purpose I connect-theValve-m with the feeder-C, as by mounting upon the shaft c of the feeder an arm 0, having at its free end a hook 0 and upon this arm is adapted to slide a link of a chain 0, the lower end of which is connected with the valve m.

The carbid receptacle or feeder C having been filled and the feeder having bygravity assumed the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the operation is as follows: The attendant turns the shaft 0 by hand, giving it about discharged depending upon the capacity of the spent a. Whenthe attendant gives this movement to the feeder O, a pull is exerted The'casing N further has an opening whicln It will be on the chain 0 and the valve m is opened, causingtherenewal of aportion of the watercontained in the receptacle A by the siphon actionhereinbefore describedin detail. The valve m is'opened-for. a short time only, as

the further movement of the feeder Gin the direction'indicated by the arrow 00 causes the upper end of the chain oto slide along the arm 0 toward the center, and thus allows the valve m'to be closed by the pressure of the water. As soon as the attendant releases the feeder the latter returns to the position shownin Fig. 2

and the lid 0 is closed automatically, so that no gas and vapor will Ila-1ft) access to the carbid contained in the feeder. The gas generated by contact of the carbid with the water rises into the head h and passes through the pipe l-I into the purifying-chamber g; This chamber also acts as a cooler for the generator A. The-gas then passes through the pipe (I and perforated tube '11 into the bell D of the gasolneter. From this bell the gas passes through the perforated pipe j to the pipe j and to the service-pipe d. In case an excess of gas should be generated the bell I) will rise sufficiently to bring the lower end K of the pipe K above the level of the water, and the surplus of gas will be able to es cape through the pipe K and the blow-0E pipe. \Vhen in consequence of the earbid being used up or of the consumption. of the gas the hell I) is lowered, the rack-teeth a will engage the pinion d and will turn the feeder C in the same manner in which it was turned by the attendant at the beginning of the operation. There will then occur an automatic renewal of .the water inthe receptatale A, togetherwith the automatic feeding of a further charge of calcium carbid. As soon as, in consequence of the generation of a new gas, the hell I) againrises sufficiently to release the pinion (L as shown in Fig. 3, the feeder C will automatically drop back to the position shown in Fig. 2. The rise and fall of the gasometer-bell will thusautomatically control the feed of the water and of the carbid and the generation of the gas. The movement of the bell is an extremelysteady one on account of the guidance afforded by the pipes d, j, and K. v

Among the many advantages of my invention, in addition to those pointed out hereinbefore, I desire to mention the fact that I may use carbid of practically any size and that the movementof the feeder agitates the carbid, so as to keep the particles thereof separated and prevent their packing.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of my invention as long as such modifications remain within the scope of one or more of the appended claims. I

What I claim'as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- r 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the comb inationwith a generating-receptacle, 01; a feeder for supplying a gas-generating substance thereto, a feed-water-supply tank communicating with said receptacle, means for restoring the water in said tank to a predetermined level, a siphon for withdrawing a. portion from the gcncratingreceptacle, and

. neans for starting said siphon.

2. In "an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a gencrating-receptacle, a gasometer connected therewith, a feed-water tank connected with the lower part of said remcans for supplying water to the therein, a siphon for withdrawing a portion of the water from the generating-receptaclc, means for starting said siphon, a feeder mounted to turn and adapted to discharge a gas-generating substance into the generatingrcccptacle, a connection from' said feeder to the means for starting the siphon, and an op erating connection from the bell of the gasomcter to the said feeder.

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a generating-receptacle, of a feeder mounted to turn, and provided with a spout, the delivery end of which is bent toward the feeder.

4. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a gencrating-receptacle, of a feeder for supplying a gas-generating substance to said receptacle, means for sup plying a liquid to the generator, a siphon for withdrawing a portion of the liquid from said receptacle, and means controlled by the feeder for starting said siphon.

5. In an apparatus of. theclass described, the combination with a generatingn'eceptacle, of a feeder mounted to turn and provided with a curved spout, the outer wall of which lies in the continuation of, or flush with, the periphery of the feeder, while the inner wall of the spout forms an angle with such periphery.

6. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a gas-generatin g receptacle, a movable feeder for supplying a gas-generating substance to said receptacle, means for Withdrawing liquid from said receptacle, and a loose controllingconnection extending from the feeder to the said means, so that the feeder will move independently of the said 'meansuntil the looseness or slack of said connection is taken up, and will then suddenly operate said liquid-withdrawing means.

; 7. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a generating-receptacle,

of a feeder for supplying agas-generating substance to said receptacle, means for supplying water to the said receptacle and replenishing the water-supply to a predetermined level, and a siphon-pipe located within said receptacle and having its bend above the normal water-level, and its intake or inlet at a distance below said level, so that upon the starting of the siphon a portion of the liquid contained in the receptacle will be renewed.

8. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a generating-receptacle, of a feeder for supplying a gas-generating substance to said receptacle, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle, a siphon extending within the receptacle to a point above the normal level of the liquid and provided with an aperture below the normal level of the liquid and below the inlet of the siphon, so that the siphon may be started by admitting .the liquid through the said aperture, and a valve for normally closing said aperture.

9. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a generating-receptacle, of a feeder for supplying a gas-generating substance thereto, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle, a siphon for withdrawing a portion of the liquid from the re- -ceptacle, a'gasometer for receiving the gas said means to the gasometer-bell, so that the bell will move Without operating until the looseness or nection is taken up., i

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generating-receptacle, a

the siphon slack in the said confeeder mounted to turn and provided with anarm extending outwardly therefrom, a siphon for withdrawing a portion of the liquid from the said receptacle, a siphon-starting valve inthe lower portion of the receptacle, and a loose connection from the said valve to the arm on; the feeder, said connection being adapted to slide upon the said arm.

12. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a generating-receptacle,

of a feeder for 'supplying'a gas generating su bstance thereto, means for supplying water to said receptacle, a siphon for withdrawing liquid from said receptacle, said siphon being provided on its outlet-leg with an aperture below the normal level of the liquid, and a Valve for normally closing said aperture. V

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationwith a generating-receptaele, of a feeder mounted to turn and provided at its periphery with a spout so curved that in a certain position the material contained in the feeder will not be able to escape from the spout, the said feeder being also provided with a filling-opening in such a relation to said spout that when the filling-opening is at the top the escape of material from the spout will be prevented.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationwith. a generating-receptacle, of a feeder mounted to turn and provided at about diametrically opposite points of its periphery with a filling-opening and with a discharge-spout respectively, and means for closing said spout when the filling-( elling is at the'top of the feeder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD MARSH. Vitnesses:

J OHN LoTKA,

MINNIE WHITNEY DENNE. 

